Cutter



G. J. PFISTER.

CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.29.1918.

1,340,1 37. Patented May 11, 1920.

' 5.9 s SHEETS-SHEET 1. 57 61 59 58 62 6 jt La w11, ty.

G. J. PFISTER.

CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED oc. 29. 1918.

GEORGE J'. PFISTER, 0F ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

CUTTER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed October 29, 1918. Serial No. 260,079.

To all tn/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. Pris'rnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements whereby continuous sheets of thick material such as paper, metal and the like are cut into even widths and lengths in a simple and effective manner.

More particularly this invention is designed to produce improved mechanism which will cut the strips both longitudinally and transversely efficiently in a quick and clean manner without leaving ragged edges and whereby a maximum amount of material may be cut in a minimum lengthof time.

To these ends my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at the reciproeating cutting mechanism end of the machine, part of the structure being 1n section in order to more clearly illustrate the construction; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a detail looking at the rotary cutting mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a detail showing a portion of the adjustable journal mechanism in which the rotary cutters are held.

My improved machine is assembled and supported upon a suitable body frame, that illustrated being composed of a pair of longitudinal I-beams 2 and 3 forming sides, the forward ends of said I-beams being mounted upon a pair of vertical supports 4 and 5 of substantially similar construction which are connected by the stationary transverse members 6 and 7 forming the head and base plates of a portion of the reciprocating cutting mechanism A. The opposite ends of the I-beams 2 and 3 are secured together by the cross member S and mounted upon the standards 9. This end of the structure which is opposite from the end supporting the reciprocating cutting mechanism is the longitudinal cutting mechanism B the latter i =being adapted to slit strips of material into even width before the transverse cutting mechanism cuts the strips into the desired length.

The continuous strip of material to be slit into even width and cut into lengths is fed into the slitting mechanism and from thence passes into the reciprocating cutting mechanism. rIhe slitting mechanism is composed of twoshafts arranged across the frame one above the other the shaft 10 being journaled in the bearing blocks 11 and 12 and the shaft 13 being journaled in the bearing blocks 14 and 15. The shaft 13 carries a drive pulley 16 on one end by which it is revolved and also carries a pair of pulleys 17 and 18 having annular grooves 19 by which a pair of carrier belts 2O and 21 are revolved, said carrier belts extending longitudinally of the machine and passing over an idle carrier roller 22 journaled in the supports 23 on the frame adjacent to the reciprocating-cutting mechanism A. The shaft 10 carries a pair of carrier pulleys 24 and 25, which are selectively positioned and held thereon by the set bolts 26. The peripheries of the pulleys 24 and 25 co-act with the surfaces of the carrier belts 20 and 21 in feeding the strip of material to be cut forwardly through the machine. The journal blocks 14 and 15 are held stationary in the journal posts orboxes 27 and 28 while the journals 11 .and 12 are urged downwardly under spring pressure by means ofv the springs 29 placed in the upper ends of the journal posts and adjusted by means of the bolts 30. The surfaces of the carrier belts 20 and 21 and the peripheries of the pulleys 24 and 25 are regulated apart by means of the shim blocks 31 whichI are moved across the vertical opening 32 in the journal posts by a regulating bolt 33 with its beveled face pressing against the slanting face 34 on the lower surface of the journal block 11 or 12. In this manner the two shafts 10 and 13 are regulated as to distance apart andthe machine may be adjusted to feed material of any thickness therethrough to be cut.

The slitting mechanism includes a pair of rotary cutting blades 35 and 36 on each side, the blades 35 being secured on the circular supports 37, which are bolted in selected position longitudinally on the shaft 13 and the cutting blades 36 being secured on the circular supports 38 which are sli dably supported freely on the shaft 10. The cutting around the shaft l0 interposed between the vsupport 38 and the pulley 24 on one end and between the support 88 and the pulley 25 on the other end. Thus as the strip of material such as thick cardboard or metal is fed longitudinally into the machine it is slit evenly as to width by the rotary cutting blades 35 and 36 and fed forwardly over the frame of the machine by the carrier belts 20 and 2l. The upper shaft 10 is driven by the lower shaft by means of the intermeshing gears 40 and 4l. "The length of the teeth of these gears is sui'iicient so that the gear teeth will mesh and cause the even revolution of the shaft 10 when the distance between said'shafts is varied vthrough the adjustment of the shim blocks 31. An idle carrier roller 42 ournaled upon the receiving end of the frame facilitates the feeding of the strip of material to be cut and trimmed.

The reciprocating cutting mechanism A, which is adapted to cut the strips transversely into lengths 'is composed of a stationary transverse cutting blade 50 and a superimposed reciprocating cutting blade 5l the former being secured to the bed plate 7 and the latter to a reciprocating cutter head 52 respectively by the screws 58 and the bolts 54. The cutting edge of the reciprocating blade 5l slants downwardly from end to end so as to produce a shearing action as the two blades close together to effect the cutting of the material. The reciprocating cutter head 52 is provided with a pair of guides 54 and 55 at its opposite ends which are adapted to slide vertically in vertical channels 56 formed in the vertical supports 4 and 5. The upper ends ofthe guides 54 and are provided with a pair of upwardly extending shafts 57, which slide through bearings 58, which are carried upon the upper ends ofthe side supports 4 and Helical expansion springs 59 placed around theshafts 57 and held by nuts 60 threaded on the upper ends of the shafts press downwardly upon the bearings 58 and urge the cutter head upwardly into superior position. The downward thrust of the cutting head is against the tension of the springs 59. The upward movement of the cutter head is cushioned by a pair of dashpots 6l and 62 of similar construction, one being mounted upon each of the side supports 4 and 5. Each dash-pot is of cylindrical form closed atv its upper end and containing a reciprocable piston 63 connected to one of the guides 54 and 55 by a piston rod 54 and bolts 65. The upper end of each dash-pot contains a check valve 66, which is adapted to close a port opening 67 against the escape of air during the upward cushioning movement of the piston 63 and to open and allow the free ingress of air during the downward movement of the piston and cutterhead. These cushioning devices act as buffers to prevent the sudden impact of thev cutter head against any stop. The reciprocation of the cutter head is produced by a pair of connecting rods 68l and 69 (see Fig. 3) which are pivotally attached at their upper ends to the guides 54 and and' journaled at their lower ends upon the crank arms 70 and 71, which are mounted upon the drive shaft 72. This drive shaft is journaled' near its ends in the side supports 4 and 5 and is operated by means of a friction clutch C., the driven member 73 of which is keyed to the shaft 72 and the driving member 74 revolubly mounted upon said shaft and feathered to the drive pulley 75, which is shown driven by a belt 76, which in turn is driven by a prime mover such as a motor 77 (see Fig. 2). The driving member of the clutch is moved out of engagement with the driven member 73 by the shifting member 78, which is mounted upon the rocker shaft 7 9, said rocker shaft being turned by means of the lever handle 8O for use by the operator. The lever handle is adapted to engage under spring pressure with the shouldered side of a quadrant 81, so as to releasably hold the driving member of the clutch out of engagement with the driven member. The driving member of the clutch is caused to engage with the driven member by the coil spring 82 which presses against the side of the collar 83 forming part of the shifting member 78 and thus forcesa driving connection between the clutch members. This form of drivingconnection isy particularly advantageous because it enables the operators to more easily cause the cutterhead to operate accurately and quickly. As the strip of material to be cut into lengths after it has been stripped is movedV along the machine on the conveyer belts 20 and 21, it passes below an idle carrrier roller 84, which is journaled in the outer ends of the arms 85, which are freely swung from the side supports 4 and 5. The weight of this idle roller holds the strip firm-ly on the conveyer with its end projectingy through the space be*- tween the cutting knives 5() and 51. While in this position the forward end of the strip is supported upon a tablel 86 or other suitable support upon which its length can be measured and at the proper instant the lever 80 is released, causing the friction clutch members 74 and 73 to engage and turn the shaft until the ieciprocating cutter head has completed a stroke downwardly whereupon the handle 8() is released and the springs 59 return the cutter head in upper position automatically. This action is quick and positive and is within complete control of the operator. The return of the cutterhead upwardly is also assisted by counter weights 87 mounted upon the crank arms 7() and 7l. During the upward movement of the cutterhead its progress is impeded without jar by the use of the pneumatic buffers above described. In case an eXtra thick piece of stock passes into the machine then temporarily the feed shafts 10 and 13 spread and there is no feed by rollers 24 and 25 but during that period the roller 8a supplements the feed as well as at all times and continues the feeding of the stock. The handle 80 is arranged adjacent to the table so that an operator stationed alongside of the table convenient to observe and measure the stock can cause the operation of the transverse cutting mechanism at the proper instant.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the appa.

ratus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A cutting machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a pair of co-acting cutters, one being reciprocable and the other stationary to cut a sheet transversely, belts arranged for feeding said sheet across the cutting edges of said cutters, spring actuating means for raising said reciprocable cutter into spread open position, a friction drive for closing the cutters, a table extending from said cutters adapted to receive the stock, and a control handle adjacent to said table remote from said cutters for controlling the operation of said drive.

2. A cutting machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a pair of co-acting cutters, one being reciprocable and the other stationary to cut a sheet trans versely, means such as belts for feeding said sheet across the cutting edges of said cutters.y a table extending from said cutters, adapted to receive the stock from between said cutters, spring actuating means for raising said reciprocable cutter into open position, a friction drive for closing the cutters, means arranged adjacent to said table and remote from said cutters for controlling the operation of said device and means for cushioning the rebound of said reciprocable cutter under the action of said spring actuating means.

3. A cutting machine of the* class set forth, comprising, in combination, a pair of (zo-acting cutters, one being reciprocable and the other stationary to cut a sheet transversely, belts for feeding said sheet across the cutting edges of said cutters, a table upon which stock is delivered from between said cutters, a pair of supports in which the ends of said reciprocable cutting element are slidably mounted, a pair of springs interposed between said supports and reciprocable cutter element for raising the reciprocable cutter element into open position, a pair of rebound cushions interposed between the ends of said reciprocable cutter and said supports for cushioning the return movement of said reciprocable cutter and means for closing said cutters to cut said sheet, said means including a friction clutch driving element, a prime mover and means arranged alongside of said table and remote from said cutters for actuating said friction clutch into and out of engaging position.

4. A cutting machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a pair of coacting cutters, one being reciprocable and the other stationary to cut a sheet transversely, a pair of coacting rotary cutters having overlapping shearing blades for stripping said sheet longitudinally, means for feeding said sheet into cutting position longitudinally of said rotary cutters and across the cutting edges of said transverse cutters and means for revolving said rotary blades,

5, A cutting machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a pair of coacting cutters, one being reciprocable and the other stationaryto cut a sheet transversely, a pair of coacting rotary cutters having overlapping shearing blades for stripping said sheet longitudinally, means for revolving said rotary blades, said rotary cutters being held with their side faces overlapping one another under spring tension, and a carrier belt between said blades and transverse cutters for feeding said sheet in cutting position longitudinally of said rotary cutters and across the cutting edges of said transverse cutters.

6. A cutting machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, a pair of coact* ing cutters, one being reciprocable and the other stationary to cut a sheet transversely, a table upon which the stock is delivered from said cutters, a pair of coacting rotary cutters having overlapping shearing blades for stripping said sheet longitudinally, means for' adjusting the distance of said rotary cutters diametrically apart, and means such as belts interposed between the rotary cutters and shearingl blades for feeding said sheet in cutting position longitudinally of said rotary cutters and across the cutting edges of said transverse cutters and means such as a clutch and an operating lever adjacent to said table for controlling the operation of said shearing blades.

7, A cutting machine of the class set forth, comprising, in combination, coacting cutters, means for cutting a sheet of material transversely, a frame in which said cutters are mounted, a pair of rotary shafts arranged one above the other on said frame, pairs of rotary cutters, one cutter of each pair being mounted upon one of said shafts and the other cutter on the other of said shafts, the cutter blades of each pair of said rotary cutters overlapping to produce a shearing action as they revolve, bearing blocks verti cally slidable in said frame in which said upper shaft is journaled and by Which the upper shaft is movable up and down, springs by which the journal blocks are pressed down, adjustable means by Which the downward movement of said bearing block can be varied, gear means for revolve ing said shafts, carrier pulleys mounted upon said shafts for feeding the sheet between said rotary cutters, feed belts driven by said pulleys and traveling inwardly to feed said sheet from said rotary cutters across said transverse cutting means and means for actuating said transverse cutting means to cut the sheet into lengths.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication.

GEORGE J. PFISTER. 

